Neville points finger at Tuchel over comments he has a ‘problem’ with | Football | Sport
Gary Neville has taken issue with Thomas Tuchel’s comments about English football’s ‘DNA’ after England’s defeat to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final. The Three Lions suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of the reigning world champions in Atlanta on Wednesday night.
Anthony Gordon scored the opening goal for England in Georgia before Enzo Fernandez equalised and Lautaro Martinez scored the winner for Argentina.
England had held the lead until the 85th minute when Fernandez equalised and Tuchel has since been criticised for the tactics used after Gordon opened the scoring.
Tuchel referenced English football’s ‘DNA’ after England’s defeat when responding to the criticism that had been directed at him about the tactics and defensive approach.
“I think ball possession plays a crucial role; it’s maybe not in our DNA like it is in our Spanish DNA or in our Argentinian-Brazilian DNA, to take the ball and control the game with the ball.,” Tuchel said.
In response, Neville has outlined why he takes exception to Tuchel’s remarks and raised concerns about certain substitutions implemented by the England manager.
Speaking on the latest Stick to Football podcast, Neville said: “I did think that he’ll [Tuchel] look back and think, ‘Did I send the right message to the players after the goal went in?’, putting three defensive players on before he brings on an attacker.
“I’m saying this in a non-explosive manner, he [Tuchel] will regret that. I think he gave the players a message to hang on, and they were dropping deeper in the box, and he didn’t really help them get out with the substitutes he put on.
“His quote today [was] ‘It’s maybe not in our DNA like it is in the Spanish DNA, or the Argentinian or Brazilian DNA, to take the ball and control the game.’.
“I have a big problem with that. He didn’t bring Kobbie Mainoo on, who could handle the ball better than most. He didn’t bring Bukayo Saka on, who could probably handle the ball better than most. But he also left Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Adam Wharton, Morgan Gibbs-White and Trent Alexander-Arnold at home, technical players. He’s left out what would be generational talents.
“Thomas Tuchel is German, he’s not supposed to bring the English mentality, he’s supposed to bring the German mentality of winning.
“The main comment I’ve seen today, other than people saying he should be sacked, that he bottled it, which I think is going too far, is that this guy was brought in with a German mentality, to bring us the steel and the coldness and the ruthlessness in the big moments.”
England will now turn their attention to a third-place play-off clash against France in Miami on Saturday, rounding off their World Cup campaign.
